Roman Rock Lighthouse Reef
False Bay · South Africa
Roman Rock is a submerged granite pinnacle in the heart of False Bay, topped by a historic cast-iron lighthouse and surrounded by one of the bay's richest reef communities. The rocky structure drops steeply on all sides, with the deeper sections draped in dense sea fans and populated by large pelagic fish that use the pinnacle as a navigation marker. The site regularly produces encounters with ragged-tooth sharks in summer and is a consistent performer for schooling fish and large predators year-round.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 30 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
8 to 18 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
11 to 18°C
drysuit recommended
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| Vis (m) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Black Girdled Lizard
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 778 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Common Ostrich
Last confirmed Jun 29, 2026 · 400 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Pyjama Shark
Last confirmed Jun 25, 2026 · 55 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
African Penguin
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 875 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Yellowtail Amberjack
Last confirmed Jan 5, 2026 · 8 records
Very likely
Most dives
Ragged-Tooth Shark
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear